Brit Lit Vocab #3

Front 1

Pyrrhic

pir-ik

Back 1

from Pyrrhus who suffered enormous losses in a "victory" over the Romans
noun
1. an ancient Greek warlike dance in which the motions of actual warfare were imitated.
adjective
2. of, pertaining to, or denoting this dance.

Front 2

Stentorian

sten-tawr-ee-uhn, -tohr

Back 2

from Stentor, a legendary herald whose voice was as loud as 50 voices
adjective
very loud or powerful in sound: a stentorian voice.

Front 3

Stygian

stij-ee-uhn

Back 3

(not always capitalized, but usually) from Styx, a river of the lower world leading into Hades, or Hell.
adjective
1. of or pertaining to the river Styx or to Hades.
2. dark or gloomy.
3. infernal; hellish.

Front 4

terpsichorean

turp-si-kawr-ee-uhn, -kohr

Back 4

from Terpsichore, the muse of dancing
adjective
1. pertaining to dancing.
2. ( initial capital letter ) of or pertaining to Terpsichore.
noun
3. a dancer.

Front 5

thespian

Back 5

from Thespis, reputed father of Greek drama
adjective
1. ( often lowercase ) pertaining to tragedy or to the dramatic art in general.
2. of or characteristic of Thespis.
3. of or pertaining to Thespiae.
noun
4. ( sometimes lowercase ) a tragedian; an actor or actress.

Front 6

titanic

Back 6

from the Titans, lawless, and powerful giants defeated by Zeus
adjective
1. ( initial capital letter ) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Titans.
2. Also, titan. of enormous size, strength, power, etc.; gigantic.

Front 7

venerable

Back 7

from the Latin word venerari which means "to honor"
commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
2. a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.

Front 8

sedulous

sej-uh-luhs

Back 8

sedulus is a Latin word which means "careful"
adjective
1. diligent in application or attention; persevering; assiduous.
2. persistently or carefully maintained: sedulous flattery.

Front 9

ribald

Back 9

from a Norman (French) word ribault which means "a ruffian".adjective
1. vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.

Front 10

rancor

Back 10

from the Latin rancere which means "to be sour"
noun
bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice.

Front 11

harbinger

Back 11

from a Norman word herbergeor which means "one who provides lodgings" noun
1. a person who goes ahead and makes known the approach of another; herald.
2. anything that foreshadows a future event; omen; sign: Frost is a harbinger of winter.
3. a person sent in advance of troops, a royal train, etc., to provide or secure lodgings and other accommodations.